THE stunt rider killed in a crash on the set of Deadpool 2 has been identified as Joi ‘SJ’ Harris, a motorcycle racer from New York.
Ms Harris described herself on her website as the ‘The first licensed African-American woman in U.S. history to actively compete in AMA sanctioned motorcycle road racing events’.
Videos posted on her YouTube channel include one showing her competing in the CCS Rookies Cup and experiencing her ‘first race crash ever’ on her Suzuki GSX-R750 in 2015.
Ms Harris was an active social media user, posting pictures on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter.
She listed her bikes as a 2014 Kawasaki Ninja 300 as well as the 2013 GSX-R750.
Ms Harris is reported to have been performing as a film stunt rider for the first time when she crashed a Ducati Hypermotard on the set of the superhero sequel starring Ryan Reynolds in Vancouver at just after 8am on Monday.
She is believed to have been acting as a double for Zazie Beetz, playing Domino.
Production of the film was shut down immediately following the accident.
Witnesses described how Ms Harris crashed through glass in Shaw Tower after performing the same stunt successfully four times.
One told Global News: “People were running on the sidewalk, the motorcycle comes flying across the street, looks like from a ramp because it was in the air.
“[The rider was] standing on the bike, slams into that building, clearly hit and out of control and clearly not planned.”
Ryan Reynolds wrote on Twitter: “Today, we tragically lost a member of our crew while filming Deadpool. We’re heartbroken, shocked and devastated ... but recognize nothing can come close to the grief and inexplicable pain her family and loved ones must feel in this moment. My heart pours out to them - along with each and every person she touched in this world.”
— Ryan Reynolds (@VancityReynolds) August 14, 2017
